James Rogers McConnell Air Museum
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  Location within North Carolina | |
| Established | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Location | Carthage, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°20′12″N 79°26′15″W / 35.3366°N 79.4375°W |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Founder | Roland Gilliam |
| Website | www |
The James Rogers McConnell Air Museum is an aviation museum located at the Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in Carthage, North Carolina focused on aviation in World War I.
Background
Roland Gilliam purchased 120 acres (0.49 km2) acres near Carthage, North Carolina and began building Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in 1989.[1][a] The airport was completed in 1994 when the 2,500 ft (760 m) runway was paved. It was followed by the construction of several houses and the opening of a restaurant in 2008.[2][b]
Establishment
After learning about James Rogers McConnell, a North Carolina pilot killed in World War I, Gilliam was motivated to establish the museum in Fall 2013.[3][4] It opened ten years later on 23 September 2023.[5][6]
The museum received a donation of over 2,500 model airplanes in 2019.[7]
Exhibits
An airport beacon is on display at the museum.[8]